
I've been bobbing in and out of the
main floor today, where members have been engaged in a robust debate
over the future of their union. Below are just a few of the historic
changes overwhelmingly passed today:
1. A member action and leadership program that commits local unions
to increase the percentage of members in leadership roles to 10%.
2.
Member Resource Centers which will help locals be more responsive to
members' needs by providing professional representation in their
language of choice – and make more resources available for member
action, bargaining and organizing.
3. During
the Iraq war debate, several members spoke out who've lost family
members as a result of the conflict—resulting in some tearful moments
on the floor. Delegates voted resoundingly in favor of bringing U.S. troops home immediately.
I
just left the floor—it's 5:20pm, and delegates are still speaking on
the floor, passionately debating proposals. The latest is a proposal to unite long term care
workers into one local in every state, in order to achieve bigger gains for
workers by improving our ability to work with allies, government
bodies, consumers and employers. It's a testament to the dedication of SEIU members, and the spirit of our union.